Monday, January 12, 2009

Republican 2012 Presidential contenders with their hands out

We have heard a lot about the next set of Republican Presidential contenders in 2012. Mostly governors are getting the nod and the support right now.

Just out of curiosity, I thought I would check into how these governors were handling their wish lists from Obama stimulus (bailout) program.

Some are doing okay, others I was quite surprised about:

Sarah Palin- Governor of Alaska- Governor Palin is getting her head ripped off by the new US state senator Mark Begich because she is not asking for anything more than the typical road projects already supported by the federal government. These are projects already requested and approved by the federal government.

Palin says requesting what she calls non-formula projects, like those Begich suggests, could lead to, "....unhealthy practices and results that often occur in the Congressional earmarking process."

It is a statement that some say sounds similar to those Palin used on the Vice-Presidential campaign trail.

The letter ends with Palin telling the congressional delegation, "...beyond my purview as Governor, I also urge you to consider how the economic stimulus package will affect the national debt and the future economic health of the country."

Palin is standing her ground and not requesting anything more than she would any other year. There will be several city mayors and such that will work around her and try to get more money.

Mark Sanford- Governor of South Carolina- just like Governor Palin, Governor Sanford is not asking for anything additional. Just the typical projects that are already funded by the federal government for project already approved. Of course, the mayors in his state are already trying to work around there governor just like they are in Alaska by making their own requests.

Palin and Sanford are on the same page and both are warning of the future consequences of doing this.

This is where things get a little sticky.

I am rather disappointed in this next governor. We have been hearing for months how wonderfully conservative Bobby Jindal is, but make no doubt about it, Jindal is going after as much money as he can get from Obama.

Bobby Jindal- Governor of Louisiana- Even though billions upon billions of dollars have already been poured into Louisiana- Jindal appears to be ready to ask for billions more:

Jindal said the Obama administration asked states to provide lists oftransportation and infrastructure projects that were "shovel ready" and could begin within 90 to 180 days, projects that could create jobs and stimulate state economies.

Among the projects Jindal said Louisiana could begin quickly if provided federal aid were continued expansions of Interstates 10 and 12 in the Baton Rouge area, I-49 north from Shreveport to Arkansas and road paving projects around the state.

The governor and U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, said they have asked the Obama administration to include dollars for coastal restoration and flood protection projects in the stimulus proposal.Jindal said the stimulus bill likely won't include money tied to specific projects, but rather distributed through a funding formula that would allocate dollar amounts to states.Though Vitter said he would work to get Louisiana priorities included in the stimulus plans, he added, "I don't know how I'll vote on that final bill."

You guys make your own final analysis on this one. After Jindal's massive government sponsored health care he rolled out in November, that would cost taxpayers all over the US to pay for his expanded medicare program, I already have a chip on my shoulder when it comes to Jindal.

I am also disappointed in this next governor.

Jon Huntsman- Governor of Utah- Governor Huntsman is not even pretending to be a fiscal conservative. He is requesting at least $14.5 billion. Our Democrat governor here in Wisconsin is only going after $20 billion and we are a bigger state with more people!

The break the company is looking for could be the Obama administration’seconomic-stimulus package. Utah’s list of infrastructure projects seeks nearly$14.5 billion in federal funding, with an eye towards creating more than 120,000 jobs in the state. Of all the requested funding, however, dollars earmarked for energy-infrastructure projects (including CNG fueling sites) make up onlyroughly $27 million of the more than $14 billion requested.

And this guy calls himself a conservative???? Sure looks like a Governor Arnold conservative to me.

There you have it.

I have heard each one of these names bounded about for a possible run for president in 2012 or 2016.

Edited to add: One of the commenters spoke about Rick Perry- governor of Texas. I could have added Perry to the list. He too is another governor warning against the state bailout.

As you are aware, the governors met with Obama about a month ago where all of this was discussed.

Turns out, three governors were leading the charge against the state bailout. Guess which three governors? You got it. Governor Sarah Palin, Governor Mark Sanford and Governor Rick Perry.

He said Republican Govs. Rick Perry of Texas, Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Sarah Palin of Alaska, led a spirited debate about the pitfalls of adding to the $10.7-trillion federal debt. They warned that the U.S. economy could collapse.

Apparently we only have three governors willing to act like fiscal conservatives.

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